dancing

This poem by St. Augustine is a copy of a blog written on 11 September 2003 from Jackie. And I´ve included it just because I like dancing - and because with life here you have to learn how to dance amongst the others who are sharing your space.

I praise the dance, for it frees people
from the heaviness of matter and binds
the isolated to community.

I praise the dance, which demands everything:
health and a clear spirit and a buoyant soul.

Dance is a transformation of space, of time, of people,
who are in constant danger of becoming all brain,
will, or feeling.

Dancing demands a whole person, one who is
firmly anchored in the center of her life, who is
not obsessed by lust for people and things
and the demon of isolation in her own ego.

Dancing demands a freed person, one who vibrates
with the equipoise of all her powers.

I praise the dance.

O woman, learn to dance, or else the angels in heaven
will not know what to do with you.

Note (from Jackie): The original version of this poem speaks of "he" rather than "she" and "man" rather than "woman."

Note (from Brenda): The poem is written by St. Augustine (A.D. 354 - 430) but I couldn´t find where exactly he had written it.